An airbrush (or a “spray gun”) is a device that by means of compressed air sprays paint, ink, or dye. This tool is widely used is modern art. The airbrush has undergone many modifications since when it was first patented by Francis Edgar Stanley in 1876. Now it looks like pen and is user-friendly.
In the article we will touch upon the airbrush mechanism and will talk about basic airbrushing techniques.
Airbrushes are classified by three main features: paint trigger action, paint filling mechanism, and the paint-air mix level. The airbrush spreads the paint very delicately over a surface. When operating you can control paint flow by the variable trigger and the tapered needle. The device enables to create a very light blending of several colors and subtly turn one color into another.
When operating without stencils and friskets, i.e. freehand, images acquire floating quality and edges between the main and foreground-background colors are scarcely discernible. Experienced artists are able to create a strikingly realistic painting much resembling a photograph. In order to achieve this result you should use different supplementary devices (masks, friskets) and make scrupulous planning.
Airbrush pressures vary from small 20 psi (1.38 bar) to medium 30-35 psi (2-2.4 bar) and large 100 psi (6.8 bar) and more. The large ones spray thicker painting (with less solvent) on large surfaces and do it quickly. For example the High-Volume Low-Pressure (HVLP) airbrush sprays high volumes of paint at general pressures.
All airbrushing techniques are based on a freehand device manipulation, paint, air pressure, and distance to the operated surface. In order to achieve a particular shape or image stencils or shields are used. Still airbrushing techniques differ by airbrush type, i.e. is it a single or double action.
When working with the double-action airbrushing techniques you have to depress the trigger to release the air and then slowly draw it back up to the paint-release threshold. The main point here is to begin and end with air only. If following this dynamics promptly, the necessary volume of paint and line quality will be achieved.
When working with the single-action airbrushing techniques you will see that it much resembles a dagger stroke. The single action strokes are wide in the beginning and gradually diminish by the end. In this technique one action equals one operation. A fixed ratio of paint to air is released by depressing the trigger. In order to get variations of line-widths you should either change combination of the tip and nozzle or adjust the spray volume manually. The basic condition of this technique is to move hand before the trigger is depressed and after it is released. It enables to prevent the “bar bell” line.
Airbrushes are used in illustrations, photo retouching, murals painting. Special airbrushing techniques are required when working in makeup, tattoos, tanning, finger-nail art, clothing and automobile decoration.
It is also important to know which paint is appropriate for a particular surface. Usually water colors, oil paints, acrylics, sign paints, and gouache are preferred.
When getting down to working with airbrush you should beware of inhaling the dispersed solvents and paint as their component chemicals can create health problems. Better to read the regulatory provisions carefully.